H Urban, Brussels

Based on the discourse of Brussels-based architect Lucien Kroll, this exhibition – part of Bozar’s Summer of Photography – features the work of no fewer than 13 photographers who, each in their very own inimitable way, attempt to tackle the same question: What role does the citizen play in Brussels’ urban landscape? A show of Brussels city life handpicked from a number of different angles, from street gardening to social housing, these images paint a captivating portrait of the Belgian capital and its denizens.

Portraits of an art collection, Brussels

Photographer Gael Turine has travelled the length and breadth of this little country to portrait about 20 artists in their most intimate surroundings: their studios. This exhibition not only features Turine’s photographs of creatives in their natural habitat, but at the same time juxtaposes them with pieces that are the product of the toil of these very same workplaces. A rare and intimate gander at the personal world of the artist, minus the voyeurism.

De Buren, Brussels

Not only a married couple but also a team when it comes to art, Franco-Belgian photographers Merel’t Hart and Luk Vander Plaetse join forces for this exhibition at Brussels’ Cultural Center Jaques Franck. The show focuses on their common project called “De Buren,” a series inspired by a nocturnal walk through a little Dutch town and Edward Hopper’s iconic “Nighthawks.” The contemplative and intimate images expose peoples’ homes from the outside at nighttime, as seen through their windows thanks to the very Dutch habit of leaving the curtains wide open. Merel’t Hart and Luk Vander Plaetse’s work allows the viewer to dive into the private lives of others, confronting the notion of intimacy and revealing an interesting aspect of Dutch culture. But whether the act is a sign of independence and freedom or an extreme demonstration of “We have nothing to hide” still remains to be seen.

In Sight, Brussels

The exhibition In Sight, the fruit of a collaboration between Brussels’ La Cambre school and photography studio Contraste, is all about landscape photography. It’s a show that features an interesting mix of artists: both photography students (including the very promising Arnold Lebovics) and professionals, not directly involved in photography but pursuing other careers. It’s an original approach and well worth a look.

Bleda y Rosa, Brussels

The exhibition ‘Origin’, the result of a collaboration of Spanish artists Bleda and Rosa, has been awarded the National Photography Prize by the Spanish Ministry of Culture, no less. The project is described as a dialogue between paleo-anthropology and archaeology, and explores the interaction of philosophy with the history of civilisation by examining the remains of certain buildings as well as visiting places where the first human beings are thought to have appeared.

Couleur Café, Brussels

Erykah Badu, De La Soul, Sean Paul, Public Enemy, Gentleman, The Subs – Couleur Café is known for having a thang for different cultures, but it’s not just the line-up: this three-day diversity-fest will feature the usual booths with food from all over the world plus an art expo (this year’s theme: Nature, je t’aime, moi non plus) and the Solidarity Village where NGOs will be doling out info on humankind’s impact on the environment. It all adds up to a colourful, multicultural city-side festival that well lives up to its name.

La Fabrika summer sale, Brussels

La Fabrika is a design lovers’ shop in Brussels’ Dansaert with 230 m² of carefully-curated contemporary furniture, lighting and accessories. They currently have a special treat for customers that goes something like this: This weekend, their summer sale kicks off and it means reductions of up to more than 50%, and it’s the perfect chance to get your mitts on some stylish designer pieces without stressing out your bank account too much.

City Photographer Antwerp, Antwerp

City Photographer Antwerp is a non-profit that’s set out to create a collective and artistic photographic memory of the city that will serve as a reference for future generations. The exhibition features the work of the first five photographers who have participated in the project: Maarten Vanden Abeele, Patrick de Roo, Elisabeth Broekaert, Dan Zollmann and Alex Salinas who, with their captivating pictures, construct a vivid portrait of our beloved Antwerp as we know it today.

KASK end of year exhibition, Ghent

Yesterday we did a feature on Belgian photography graduates who’ve just shrugged off the stressful drama of getting their end-of-year portfolios finished and presenting them to the jury. Ghent’s KASK school is now putting on an exhibition of some of these works, including Max Pinckers’ series ‘the Fourth Wall’. In a special feature in our recently released Grey Album, this young photographer was nominated one of Belgium’s most promising talents by none other then Dirk Braeckman. Don’t miss out on your chance to get to know the country’s future stars of photography.

Vincent Geyskens, Ghent

‘UnDEAD’ is an extensive overview of Belgian artist Vincent Geyskens’ oeuvre from the past 15 years, which includes a wide selection of figurative as well as abstract works. According to the artist, the ideological conflict between the two styles is a thing of the past. His paintings are juxtaposed with artworks from the SMAK collection that create links to his own practice, chosen by Geyskens himself. A truly cool exhibition.

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The Word Magazine is Belgium’s leading English-speaking free media platform, documenting and championing the best in neighbourhood living, music and art. Published every two months, the magazine is distributed in over 500 distribution points across the country.